I totally agree with Stef here. Squeak is a wonderful thing among 
programming environments, utilizing exploratory programming in a unique 
and genial way, so let's not transform it into something less beautiful 
just to make it used by more people. That has absolutely no sense. Maybe 
this is a catch 22. If we preserve Squeak as it is now, it will not be 
used so widely, but if we modify it to be used widely, we loose the 
essence of Squeak that we love so much and that made us to make it to be 
used widely (sorry for this messy sentence :-) ).

Elod

Stéphane Rollandin wrote:
> Bill Schwab wrote:
>> Stef,
>>
>> You seem to be making my point w/o realizing it.  There is indeed no 
>> need for struggle (with our would-be users),
>
> of course this is not the struggle I am talking about.
>
> I'm talking about struggling to be popular. I just don't see the 
> point. But this is only personal, and I understand a lot of people 
> want to make it easier to do business with Squeak (that's what you 
> call "realizing it's potential" I guess); so let it be if enough 
> developers are motivated. I am not.
>
> what I am interested into is keeping the true power of Squeak intact, 
> and have it grow. to me its potential is already realized (realized as 
> potential so to speak). if most "would-be users" don't see this power, 
> too bad for them. that's what I call elitism: people have to deserve a 
> profound and intelligent software such as Squeak by understanding its 
> true nature (and certainly there is a lot we could do to help them 
> climb the learning curve). this is true of any worthy art or science: 
> you have to study to master it.
>
> now if Squeak is to become the next big thing that's fine. I certainly 
> do not "combat every attempt to provide OPTIONAL behavior" as you said 
> (how did you come to believe this ?).
>
> what I'm saying is that maintaining and improving Squeak is already a 
> demanding task (actually just understanding it is already something 
> :). this requires work, intelligence and creativity, plus there are 
> risks: Squeak being a kind of living thing can become sick, it can 
> also die. so we need to take care of it. to me the rest is secondary.
>
>
> well this is just my opinion. I have no idea how many people would 
> agree...
>
>
> regards,
>
> Stef
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>